2010 Kansas City Royals Repository thread
 

All Royals All The Time!

After consultation with others who peruse the game threads we decided to create this as a repository for all things Royals. Minor league news, AL (ahem) Central (thanks Vonne) news and anything Royals can be found here.

alnorth, me and atleast 5 others will continue the game threads as usual. But if you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

If a big story breaks, you can still start a thread about it. There is merely an all inclusive thread that will make a easy for us all to keep up with all things Royals.


Welcome! "Grab a Brew... don't cost nuthin"...[spills beer on feet]

Mods, please lock this thread. I don't want to waste my time following this stupid team all summer. Thanks.

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<small>Countdowns</small></center>

Rany said it best - as you can see in my sig.

Billy Butler might be homeless this season.

http://twitter.com/BillyButlerKC/status/7325673984

"Lookin' for a place to rent in KC... Any recommendations? No one seems to want to rent to me for 6 months! House? Townhouse? Apt? HELP!"

ROFL

:banghead:

5 more weeks until we are mathmatically elimanted

In case any of you missed it, or have a lot of free time to be sad all over again, Joe Posnanski wrote a 25 page blog post about the Royals in the double-ohs: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010...-royal-decade/

http://www.rotoworld.com/

The Royals have Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik and Randy Winn on their radar, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

That said, a baseball source told Crasnick that the Royals aren't looking to spend more than $2 million on a one-year deal for a free agent center fielder. That would seem to dismiss Ankiel, who, according to the report, wants a three-year deal for "big money." Right now, the Royals internal options for center consist of Mitch Maier and Josh Anderson. They should be able to find a bargain as Spring Training approaches.
Source: ESPN Insider

I'd love to get Ankiel. Pay some folks, dammit!

Repostiory? This is where we put all of the reposts?

Great read from JoPo.

His primary argument:

"People sometimes mock the Royals talk about “The Process” but it seems to me a process is exactly what the Royals need in the new decade. The Royals need to figure out who they are. And then every single move they make — every one — should reflect who they are."

Isn't it sad that something dripping with common sense is something that defies this organization?

Again, as I posted in the other thread, fans should really read Rany's latest blog from around 12/14/09. Damning, damning indictment of Dayton Pioli.

I just canceled my plans for Spring Training after reading this. I'd rather stay in sub zero weather than go to ST and know Mitch ****ing Maier is our "real" option in CF. Or LF. Or RF. Or Omaha. Or Memphis. Or .... aw ****itall.

Going into 2010, we might just have the worst everyday lineup in baseball history.

WE'RE MAKING HISTORY IN 2010.

Honestly, it's possible.

It's likely that we'll have the three worst everyday players at their positions: SS, C, and RF.

And these same three will be among the worst everyday players at ANY position. Factor in the CF situation and 3B, and...wow.

How uplifting. I guess I'll use that spring training money on a funeral plot to bury my entire fandom.

I had that moment, man, after the Betancourt acquisition.

With this franchise, until Dayton is fired, having too much of an emotional investment is asking for pain.

I'll always be a fan, but you just have to dial back the care-o-meter about 8-9 notches.

If I could quit following the Royals, or even just quit liking baseball altogether, I would. Unfortunately, I just cant, I'm stuck with this miserable team.

I am also a tiny minority, a lot of people who came last year to see the new pretty stadium will have no problem at all just going fishing this summer. This year... damn... we'll have some pitching, but this offense is just going to be hilariously, perhaps even historically horrid.

We need to have a "guess the date that Hillman is fired" thread.

Because this lineup will get a manager fired mid-season.

per ESPN Scott Pod is a royal...
Free agent outfielder Scott Podsednik could be a Royal by the end of the day. Podsednik has reached agreement with a team pending a physical, - per Fox sports...

Not a bad pickup.

I actually feel at least they have a philosophy with this off season. Speed, OBP, and defense seems to be the theme so far along with salary dumping.

:spock:

At least marc tehan is gone

It could be worse

It already is. This season is going to be a disaster. The worst part is, I've already seen this movie....over, and over, and over, and over........

since Mitch Maier played the most games in center for KC last season and rolled up a .665 OPS in so doing, Podsednik's .764 OPS last year would represent a modest upgrade - though that is somewhat higher than his career OPS.

I will not get excited until Alex Gordon hits .290 with 30 jacks. Until then, carry on.

What a terrible and pointless move.

Most people are saying the royals are doing this, or counting on that, it is clear as day, that they aren't doing shit but watching the money raking in from casual fans, or fans that support the team. I don't know how you find a way to be worse at catcher, but we are. Grienke isn't going to be half as good and the fans that are excited to see him alone are going to be like AWE THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WE CAME OUT.

That's really my thoughts as well.

I have NO faith in Dayton Moore that he has the wherewithal to build a successful Franchise Their moves just baffle the shit outta of me.

You're going to be pretty calm for a very long time. Royals fans have been reduced to continuing to hope that an advanced college bat comes around. It's likely not going to happen. Hope he's average because he's not going to be anything more.

Sad.

By Dayton standards, it might not be terrible, but I agree that it's absolutely pointless.

Can we at least correct the spelling of the title of this thread? I'm already embarrassed enough to post in this thread, but would feel better if it was correctly spelled. Carry on.

Podsednik CF
DeJesus LF
Guillen RF
Butler 1B
Gordon 3B
Fields DH
Betancourt SS
Getz 2B
Kendall C

Wow.

That is a 100 loss lineup if I've ever seen one.

To the Cesspool!

DeJesus LF
Getz 2B
Butler 1B
Guillen RF
Gordon 3B
Pena C
Kaihue DH
Betancourt SS
Podsednik CF


Still sucks, but I like this better. Dejesus showed how much better he hits from the #1 postition last year.

Did CoCo get signed somewhere?

I think Fields plays RF and Guillen DH mostly. Also, where is Callaspo? I know they got Getz but he has to figure into it somewhere.

I can get behind what we are doing with our pitching staff, but the pitchers don't score runs in the AL.

I really like the Noel Arguelles signing, but have no idea how long it will be before he can make an impact. Aaron Crow is a solid move, Edgar Osuna is intriguing as hell, Hochevar could be due to bust out. Like I said, the pitching is on the uprise in this franchise. However, we are absolutely floundering with our everyday lineup. I. JUST. DON'T. GET. IT.

My thoughts exactly.

They gotta get another power hitter.

You're not going to get 100 game out of Guillen whether he just DHs or not.

Another?

Yeah

I'm assuming he gets traded for a relief pitcher.

Jose Guillen is a big drag on the lineup right now. The Royals ought to sign someone else and just man up and eat his salary.

Oakland
Posted via Mobile Device

Callaspo should DH
Posted via Mobile Device

I had really hoped that would happen this off season.

Yes.

And Fields in RF. Guillen on the bench.

It's a sunk cost. Don't make it worse by continuing to play him.

It is the last year of his contract right?

Sorry.

I was including Guillen as a power hitter.

Thankfully, yes.

Is this the Royals thread, or the "What are you drinking?" thread? Both?

Guillen, who turns 34 this year, is not a power hitter. He hasn't hit 30 home runs in 5 years (and only once in his entire career).

His OPS has declined each of the last three seasons. It was below league average last year for all players, which is sad for a player spending most of his time in RF and at DH. Only Bloomquist and Betancourt had a lower rate of offensive production for the Royals.

His fielding declined significantly last year, 15 runs below average for an outfielder.

All things considered, he does not deserve to be on a major league roster any longer. His contract is the only thing keeping him there. Replacing him in the lineup with a league average right fielder would probably be the biggest upgrade this team could make.

Guillen cannot play this season. This should be Hillman's litmus test for common sense. I'd say Moore, too, but he's already failed.

If he plays, we have the three worst everyday players at their positions: SS, C, RF/DH.

Surely, Hillman understands that Guillen is atrocious in every aspect of the game, right? Trey's incompetent, but no one can be THAT bad, right?

**** Ankiel. He's a streaky, generally ineffective hitter whose main positive attribute is a great throwing arm (because he supposed to be a PITCHER). Emotionally delicate and probably insane.

Personally I hope he ends up with the Cubs.

if he can hit the ball over some fencing they've set up we will take him

I love you, baseballthinkfactory....


http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/...npodsednik.jpg

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/...he_pod_people/

Well this thread got me fired up about the 2010 Kansas City Royals!

The moves this year have been major 'meh' we are just insuring that grienke gets traded in 2 years when he sees we arent trying

Hey, at least you didn't trade 2 top-shelf relievers for nothing all while setting $15 million ablaze.

I'd take 'meh' over 'WTF WERE YOU THINKING!!!!' every time.

Dayton's evidently learning.

Agreed there, last offseason was more exciting but definite FAIL

Shit, son, we need to sign that Spongebob cat. Wonder what his VORP is projected to be this season.

Scott Podsednik has been signed.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=305256

.304
30 stolen bases

GOOD!


34 yrs old
Not so good

For what it's worth, Brodie Croyle is now completely obsolete.

Scott Podsednik is married to Lisa Dergan. Do yourself a big favor and google her.

She's otherworldy hot.

Sample -- http://www.wagrankings.com/images/wi...isa_dergan.jpg

It's weird how many White Sox we are picking up...

Championship! :rolleyes:

Scotty Pod, ay? Think I'm gonna sit around and shove my finger through my eye... maybe twirl it around a bit.

Atleast we signed him to a 1 yr deal im not complaining since I wasnt much of a Maier fan but I still would like to see what brian anderson can do

Mmmmm Dergan Dergan Mohammad Jihad.

http://images.royalsreview.com/image...n/Anderson.jpg

He had a hell of a pick-off move

Reasonable contract -

Royals Sign Scott Podsednik
By Tim Dierkes [January 8, 2010 at 4:42pm CST]
The Royals finalized their one-year $1.75MM deal with Scott Podsednik today. The contract includes a 2011 club option worth $2MM, but Podsednik can void it if he picks up 525 plate appearances this year. Both the 2010 and 2011 years include incentives worth $250K or more.

Podsednik, who turns 34 before the season starts, will compete with Mitch Maier and perhaps Brian Anderson for playing time in center field. He rates slightly below average on defense, according to UZR/150, but does add some value on offense. He hit .304/.353/.412 for the White Sox last year, stealing 30 bases in 43 attempts.

Royals GM Dayton Moore said last night on 610 Sports Radio that the Royals were close to signing a speedy outfielder. Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted that Podsednik had a deal and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick confirmed it was with the Royals. Dick Kaegel of MLB.com, Sam Mellinger of the KC Star, Rosenthal and John Marshall of the AP followed up with the details.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...utfielder.html

Fangraphs take -- your turn Omar Minaya...

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...nd-the-contest

One might be tempted to see the Royals’ signing of outfielder Scott Podsednik as a move to steal the headlines in the wake of cross-state rival St. Louis’ big Matt Holliday contract earlier this week. Or maybe they just wanted to sneak in the bad news on Friday. Close observers, however, know better. This is all part of The Contest.

I’m not exactly sure what the goal of The Contest is: to put together a team that might contend in 2005, get fired, or to shatter the blogosphere’s Universal Snark-O-Meter in one fell blow, but it’s been apparent for some time now that Royals General Manager Dayton Moore and his Mets counterpart Omar Minaya have been involved in some sort of bizarre rivalry for at least the last year. It’s been a real back-and-forth (forgive the shaky chronology):

* Dayton acquires Mike Jacobs, Kyle Farnsworth, Horacio Ramirez, and Willie Bloomquist as part of a misguided attempt to contend.

* Omar responds by giving Oliver Perez three years and $36 million (aka, “The Jose Guillen Special”).

* The same week that the Royals trade prospects for Yuniesky Betancourt, the Mets trade Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur (the latter must really have burned Dayton up inside).

* Omar accuses a reporter critical of a fired Mets official of gunning for a job with the Mets.

* In the midst of a near 100-loss season, Dayton lectures Royals fans on their lust for instant gratification and admonishes them to “trust the process.”

* Dayton understandably allows two below-average catchers to walk (Miguel Olivo and John Buck), but then signs Zombie Jason Kendall for more than either Olivo or Buck get on the open market.

* Omar, bidding against himself, manages to overpay Jason Bay by at least $15-$20 million.

It was obviously Dayton’s time to shine. And shine he did.

The terms of the deal haven’t been made public yet (to my knowledge). But what kind of player is the 34-year-old Podsednik at this point?

CHONE has Podsednik projected for a context-neutral .271/.333/.367, 9 runs below average per 150 games. My own projection is .269/.324/.384, -8/150. Defensively, CHONE’s TotalZone projection is +4 in left field (Podsednik’s primary position the last few seasons) per 150 games. Jeff Zimmerman has him at -2. My projection includes basestealing (in short: he steals a lot, but gets caught too much to be worth it), but as far as his baserunning goes otherwise, he’s average at best at this point.

Per 150 games (which Podsednik hasn’t played since 2004): let’s call it +1 defense, -7 prorated positional adjustment for left field, -9 offense + 20 replacement level = 0.5 WAR player. Fans have so far projected Podsednik at 0.2 WAR for 2010.

I haven’t seen the terms of the deal yet. I’ve heard rumors or one year, one million dollars, and even at $3.5 million per marginal win, at 0.5 WAR, that’s sort of reasonable… sounding.

Except that it’s still a terrible decision. Let’s put it this way: the Royals aren’t exactly at a point at which they should be spending more for a marginal win — they are one of the worst teams in the American League. It’s a slight bargain at best, and assuming (perhaps foolishly) that Moore didn’t spring for more than one year, a player with this sort of projection needs to have some upside, and Podsednik is 34 years old.

Moreover, what does this mean in relation to opportunity cost? Podsednik is 34 years old and his primary position the last few years is left field. Of course, one of the few above-average position players the Royals have is their current left fielder David DeJesus, probably a 2.5-3.0 WAR player in 2010. DeJesus is good enough defensively that he could probably be at least adequate in center (certainly better than Podsednik), but his arm (despite 2009’s impressive statistical showing in left) won’t play in right. Podsednik doesn’t have the arm for right, either… which leaves center field, something Dayton Moore has repeatedly hinted at with his talk of “speedy center fielder” (roles!) all offseason.

Leaving aside the reality that Podsednik is at best barely above average defensively in left field, thus implying a disaster in center field (where he last played full-time in 2004), the Royals already have two center fielders on the roster. One is the recently signed replacement-level Brian Anderson (Moore is apparently adding former White Sox to his palette of former Braves and Mariners). Anderson, at least, is young-ish enough to have some upside, although why Moore felt he had to give Anderson a major-league deal worth $0.7M with performance incentives is beyond me. Even worse, the Royals have Mitch Maier. Maier is nothing special — he’s probably a good fourth outfielder at best — a 1.0-1.5 WAR player. But he’s 28, at the minimum, and the Royals aren’t contending (even for .500) in 2010: this is the year to play Maier and see what he’s got and save a bit of cash. But Dayton has other ideas.

Even if Maier wasn’t around, Podsednik isn’t close to good enough to be an Iwamura-type “let’s at least have someone respectable out there” — in that case, there are still far superior players like FanGraphs-favorites Ryan Church and Gabe Gross available, and the market shows that superior players to Podsednik, such as Langerhans, are going for less than Brian Anderson money.

I could go on, but you get the picture: this deal makes no sense… unless you know about The Contest.

Your move, Omar.

[Update: As pointed out in the comments, I completely negleted to factor in Dayton's brilliant 'banning' of Rany Jazayerli for criticizing the Royals' medical staff. I apologize for the embarrassing oversight on my part. This really puts Omar behind... how many years and millions to Bengie Molina is it going to take for him to catch up?]

**** you, DJLN, **** you.

Go Royals!1111

Atleast there will be t-shirt tuesdays!!11

They called me about my tickets and the fact I have yet to renew. I told them to hold their breath.

Wise choice.

I'll be watching on TV, as usual, but I'm going to be ****ing shocked if this year's team doesn't lose 100.

Yeah, you have no reason to go to more than a handful of games this year. I go for a good time, but i would never purchase a season ticket package. Sorry you got burned like that. I love going to royals games but i absolutely hate how our team just will never get better